Abstract: A portable communication device is equipped with a touch input device configured to provide key press functionality and scrolling functionality. The touch input device is electronically defined to include a plurality of key press areas separated by grey zones. The portable communication device is configured to provide scrolling functionality in response to detection of sequential user contact with multiple key press areas and an intervening grey zone within a predetermined timing trigger.

Abstract: When a paper sheet is required during execution of a print job, a printing apparatus requests paper sheet information about the states of paper feed trays from the other printing apparatuses. When the other printing apparatuses transmit the paper sheet information, the printing apparatus of the request source displays a search result display screen 22 which represents the states, such as the size, type, and residual amount of paper sheet in the paper feed tray of each of the other printing apparatuses. By viewing the screen 22, the user is able to determine the position of the printing apparatus and the paper feed tray, in which the required paper sheet is stored. Therefore, when the paper sheet is required during execution of the print job, the paper sheet can be quickly replenished by notifying the presence position of the paper sheet.

Abstract: A vertical crack is generated at a desired position on a brittle material substrate S by making a wheel tip 5a of a glass cutter 5 move while being in contact with the substrate surface by a load which does not allow the wheel tip 5a to damage the surface, using an armature 6 applying an abrupt impact force for generating the vertical crack having a predetermined depth, to the glass cutter 5 moving on the substrate. A scribe line is formed as the vertical crack is urged to extend along a planned scribe line, due to a stress gradient exerted onto the vertical crack and occurring between a compressive stress in an irradiation area on the substrate at which a laser beam is irradiated from a laser beam oscillator 8 and a tensile stress in a cooling area made by a cooling medium released from a cooling nozzle 7.

Abstract: A method of automatically grading beef quality by analyzing a digital image is provided. The method includes: an image acquiring step of acquiring a color image of beef using a CCD camera; a region separating step of separating a lean region from the acquired image; a boundary extracting step of extracting a boundary line of the lean region; a boundary smoothing step of smoothing the boundary line extracted in the boundary extracting step; a boundary correcting step of correcting an indented portion and a protruded portion included in the boundary line having been subjected to the boundary smoothing step; a grading region determining step of determining a grading region on the basis of the boundary line corrected in the boundary correcting step; and a grading step of grading the beef quality on the basis of the image of the grading region.

Abstract: A drive unit includes a lens frame configured to support a lens, a movable body located outside the lens and configured to be movable with the lens frame, and a vibratory actuator configured to drive the movable body. The vibratory actuator includes an actuator main body contacting the movable body, an opposite member provided at a position which is opposite to the actuator main body so that the movable body is sandwiched between the actuator main body and the opposite member, and a connecting member configured to connect the actuator main body and the opposite member and to bias them toward the movable body. The connecting member is not provided at a side of the movable body where the lens frame is provided, but is provided at an opposite side of the movable body to the side where the lens frame is provided, as viewed in the optical direction.

Abstract: A hydraulic aggregate comprises a container, a reservoir for hydraulic oil, and a pump driven by a motor arranged in the reservoir. The motor is a pneumatic motor. An electric control unit for controlling a main valve is mounted on the container. The main valve causes a reversal of the stroke direction of the hydraulic connections. The division into pneumatics and low power electronics leads to an explosion-proof embodiment of low weight and little technical complexity.

Abstract: An optical connector structure (C) includes: an optical fiber (100) having a laser beam entrance end to which a quartz chip (120) is integrally connected; a ferrule (200) into which a portion of the optical fiber (100) including the quartz chip (120) is inserted and which holds the portion of the optical fiber; and a receptacle (21) surrounding the ferrule (200), and including a large-diameter hole (21b) formed toward an opening and a small-diameter hole formed toward a back of the receptacle so as to be connected to the large-diameter hole. A front end portion (210) of the ferrule (200) is inserted into the small-diameter hole (21a) of the receptacle (21), and a back body portion (211) of the ferrule (200) is inserted into the large-diameter hole (21b) of the receptacle (21).

Abstract: A host device 200A includes a data buffer 250. When data has been already written to a part of a physical block and data is additionally written to the physical block, it is determined whether or not the data written to the physical block is held in the data buffer. When the data is held, data is written to the block, and when an error exists, data in unit of physical blocks is rewritten. When the data is not held in the data buffer, a new physical block is required to be secured and then, data is written to the new block. Thereby, even when power is shut off or an error occurs during writing in the semiconductor memory device, destruction of data already written is prevented.

Abstract: An ultrasonic actuator (2) includes an actuator body (4) which performs a longitudinal vibration and a bending vibration, and a driver element (8a, 8b) which is provided on one of side surfaces of the actuator body (4) which is a mounting surface (40a), and performs an orbital motion in accordance with the vibrations of the actuator body (4) to output a driving force. The driver element (8a, 8b) includes a first driver element (8a) and a second driver element (8b) which are provided on the mounting surface (40a) at different positions in a longitudinal direction of the actuator body (4). The first driver element (8a) and the second driver element (8b) are located at different positions in a thickness direction of the actuator body (4).

Abstract: An audio mixing device that can get simpler processing done safely without depending on the property of an input signal is provided.

Abstract: A printing screen unit (110), comprising: a printing screen (112), comprising a sheet, at least sections of at least one pair of opposite edges of which include one of engagement apertures (124) or engagement projections; and a supporting frame (114) including at least one pair of interface units (116, 117) which are attached to the at least one pair of opposite edges of the printing screen (112), wherein the interface units (116, 117) each comprise at least one coupling element (130) which includes the other of engagement apertures or engagement projections (158) for inter-engaging with the one of engagement apertures (124) or engagement projections at a respective one of the opposite edges of the printing screen (112), and an interface member (126) which includes a coupling slot (142) for captively receiving the at least one coupling element (130) therein.

Abstract: A display device is provided that comprises a liquid crystal display panel for displaying an image by spatial light modulation, and circuitry for switching liquid crystal in the panel between having a first configuration in a first mode to cause an image displayed using the panel to be discernible from a wide range of viewing angles, and having a second configuration in a second mode to cause an image displayed using the panel to be discernible substantially only from within a narrow range of viewing angles. Several types of display panel to achieve such in-panel switching between public and private viewing modes are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for memory management in a mass storage device, comprising the steps of providing a managed memory area (stockling) of s blocks that can be moved and stored in two parts to prevent fragmentation; repeatedly moving each of stockpiles 1,2, . . . , i-1 one block to the right until all stockpiles to the right of stockpile i have moved si blocks, or the left part of the rightmost stockling to the end of the free area (without changing the order between the blocks); returning the contiguous si blocks area beginning where the rightmost stockling began before its leftmost part was moved; locating the rightmost stockling that is stored in one piece (it is either the rightmost stockling itself or the stockling to the left of the rightmost stockling) and moving it to the location of the stockling to be deallocated, and reversing the allocation procedure.

Abstract: A financial market replicator, simulator, and trainer/annotator (FMRS) intermixes and records data streams of real time financial market data from a variety of sources. The FMRS replays such recorded data to simulate the real time financial market(s) in a manner that represents substantially the entirety of information relating to the financial market(s) such that an observer would have difficulty differentiating between the simulator playback of the data and real time data. A user may employ the playback of the recorded market data stream as a research and training tool for developing and executing trading strategies. For example, a user may input simulated trades of securities to test a trading strategy. The simulator would apply those trades to the recorded data to generate simulated trades and simulated profit and loss results. A user may then determine if the trading strategy would have been successful.

Abstract: Paint roller support includes a substantially rigid sleeve portion for supporting a roller cover thereon and a plurality of flexible fingers that are engageable by an actuator to cause outer ends of the fingers to flex outwardly. An elastomeric material at least partially covers outer surfaces of the fingers for pressing engagement of the elastomeric material against the inner diameter of a surrounding roller cover during outward flexing of the fingers for securely retaining the roller cover in place on the support.

Abstract: The caulking gun comprises a cartridge holder (12) for accommodating a cartridge (25). For pressing out the substance contained in the cartridge (25), use is made of a piston (30) which is advanced by a pressure disk (16). The pressure disk (16) can be radially expanded under the influence of the advancement force and thus will press by a spreading edge (49) against the side wall (31) of the piston (30). In this manner, the piston in the region of its side wall (31) is tightly pressed against the cartridge wall. Leakage of substance past the piston (30) is prevented.

Abstract: A one dose at a time, non-pressurized fluid dispensing canister from which the or each dose is dispensed as a result of two surfaces (21, 22) of the canister moving towards one another under the control of the user, wherein the canister incorporates a mechanism which, once a first dose has been dispensed, automatically prevents any further dispensing movement of the surfaces (21, 22) (in the case where the canister is a one-dosage only canister) or (where the canister is a multiple-dosage-dispensing canister) allows such movement only after the two surfaces (21, 22) have first been moved in a direction or directions other than that which alone caused the first dose to be dispensed.

Abstract: Device (1) for a motor vehicle lock (2) comprising an inlet (3) for a latch pin (4), wherein the inlet (3) has an entrance region (5) and an end region (6) with at least one damper element (7) which can absorb the contact force from the latch pin (4), wherein the damper element (7) has at least one opening (8), in which at least the rigid insert (9) is disposed against the damper element (7).

Abstract: The disclosed system, device and method for an electrical power initiator generally includes: a starter in communication with a trigger system and a generator, wherein the trigger is configured to activate the starter in response to an accelerating force and the generator is configured to produce electrical power in response to the activation of the starter.

Abstract: A shape-changing structural member has a shape-changing material, such as a suitable foam material, for example a polymer foam capable of withstanding at least 300% strain or a metal alloy foam capable of withstanding at least 5% strain. Springs, such as one or more coil springs, provide structural support for the shape-changing material. The springs may also be used to provide forces to expand and contract the shape change material. The springs may include pairs of concentric springs, one inside of another. The concentric springs may surround an underlying skeleton structure that supports the shape-changing material and/or aids in changing the shape of the material. The concentric springs may or may not be wrapped around the underlying skeleton structure. Multiple springs or pairs of springs may be coupled together using a sheet metal connector.